Guard-rail clamp.



D.P.VAUGHAN.

l GUARD RAIL CLAMP. APPLIOATION FILED JULY 29, 1911. y, Patented Nov. 26, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

WITNESSES D. F. VAUGHAN. GUARD RAIL'GLMIIP.v ABPLIOATION FILED JULY 29, 1911. 1?@@556450 Patented Nov. 26, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

INVENTOR VJITNESSES DAVID F. VAUGHAN, 0F I-IADDONFIELD, NEW JERSEY.

GUARD-RAIL CLAMP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. zo, 1912.

Application filed July 29, 1911. Serial No. 641,298.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DAVID F. VAUGHAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Haddonfield, in the count-y of Camden and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Guard Rail Clamps, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to railroad guard rail clamps, in which filler blocks are emplojfed for spacing the guard rail from the main rail and in which a yoke embracing the iails is employed and provided with a clamping wedge for clamping the parts together.

In guard rail clampsof 'this-character, one of the filler blocks is provided with depending lugs oi stops which embrace the yoke to hold the blocks in place above the same. Frequent failures of these guardrail clamps are due to the depending lugs' or stops being broken off by displacingthe yoke when the clamping wedge is driven in, thus destroying lthe means for retaining the filler blocks in place and permitting them to work loose.

One of the objects of my invention is to overcome this defect by providing the filler block with a frangible temporary stop or stops tohold the block in place before the wedge is driven in and by providing the filler block withA permanent stops stronger than the frangible stop or stopsand arranged outwardly thereof, so that the temporary stops may be set in engagement with the yoke before the wedge is driven in and so that the permanent stops will hold the block in place, should the temporary stop be broken by the displacement of the yoke when the wedge is driven in.

A further object of my invention is to provide the pair of filler blocks With novel engaging means which will not be affected by the accumulation of dirt; a further object of my invention is to provide a novel means for preventing outward movement lof the v clamping wedge; and a further object of my invention is to provide a strong clamping yoke of novel constructionwhich may be readily applied to'rails of different sizes and which yWill-firmly hold the parts in po-` sition, all as will be hereinafter fully de scribed and particularly claimed.

1n the accompanying drawings, illustratguardrail clamp embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical section thereof, on line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an elevation of the yoke, showing the'main rail in section and engaged therewith, and showing the guard rail in section in one of its positions relatively to the yoke while the parts are 'being asseinbled..-Fig. 4 is a horizontal section through the filler blocks. Fig. 5 is an elevation of one of the .filler blocks. showing a part of the yoke in section. Fig. 6 is a bottom view of the filler block shown in Fig. 5 and a portion of the yoke. Fig. 7 1s a section through the yoke, on line 1 7 of Fig. 3. Fig. 8 is a bottom view of one of the filler blocks, showing a modified ebnstruction.

3 designates the main or track rail, 5`t'lie guard rail arranged parallel and adjacent thereto, and 6 a portion of a cross tie supporting the rails 3 and 5.

. Arranged between the rails 3 and 5 is a pair of wedge-shaped separating or filler blocks 8 and9 having opposing walls 10 and 11, respectively, which are inclined with respect to the rails 3 and 5. The block 8 is fitted to the'main rail 3 in a manner toV engage the same between the head and base thereof, and the block 9 is fitted-t0 the guard rail 5 in a manner to engage the saine between the head and base thereof, as shown.

Formed in the central portionof the inclined wall 10 of the block 8 is a series of spaced openingsvl2' into which extend correspondingly spaced teeth 13 which project from the inclined wall 11 of the block 9, the teeth 13 being so disposed as to enter the openings 12 when the inclined wall 10 of the block 8 is engaged with the inclined wall 11 of the block 9. The teeth 13 thus serve to prevent vertical and longitudinal movement of the blocks 8 and 9,v relati. ely to each other. l

It will thus be seen that by disengaging the teeth 13 from the Walls ofthe openings l 12, the blocks'S and 9 may be adjusted relatively to each other longitudinally of the rails 3 and 5. 1t will also be seen-that by thus adjusting the blocks 8 and 9. their outer portions engaged with the rails 3 and 5 may be adjusted toward or from each other so -that when the rails are engaged withfthe f blocks the desired space between the railsg Will be provided. The block 8 is provided with a hollow? interior` which communicates with the open-1:!

ings 12 into which the teeth 13 are inserted, whereby should any vdirt accumulate within the openings 12 the vdirt will be ejected from the openings and into -the hollow block 8 by the teeth 13 as ythey enter the openings 12 when the blocks 8 and 9 are placed into.

. vthe base 'ot the main rail 3 and in spaced relation to each other..y The distance between the stop parts 15 is greater than the distance between-thestop parts 16. The stop parts or @anges 16 form continuations of the stop parts or "danges 1,5, the iianges 16, being inu'chjthinner than the danges 1.5 so that the @anges 13 may vbe comparatively easily trinken',fit'or, a, purpose hereinafter explained.

The 'stop parts 15 and 16 embrace a yoke 517; which 'extends transversely beneath the rails'3' ande and beneath the filler blocks 8 and 9.. The yoke 17 is providedwitha body portion,- 13 and upwardly and inwardly eX- tending end portions 19 and 20.` This yoke is preterably forged of steel and comprises a vertical' web 21 extending through the body portion18 and end portions 19 and 20, and marginal., franges 22 extending around the web 21, the yoke 17 being in the form ot an 1-bea1n in cross section.

"'llhe'end portion 19 -is arranged outwardly ofthe-main 'rail 3 and it extends between the head andl base portion ofthe main rail and itsfarginal Hanges 22 bearing .against the: (interface of the web 'of the main rail, as shown..v i

rillhe end portion 20 is arranged outwardly et the guard rail 5 and it extends toward the space between the head and base portion ot the guard rail and'has its marginal flanges 22 bearing against the outer face of a clamping-wedge 23 interposed between the outer face ot the -web' of the guard rail. 5 and the endportion 20 oit the yoke, whereby when4 the wedge 23 is vdriven into place, the rails 3 and 5' and the interposed filler blocks 8 and 9 will be rmly clamped together, A

1n- 4driving the clamping wedge 23 into position toclamp the parts, it frequently happens that the yoke 17 1s slued around or displaced to some extent in the direction that the wge is being driven. Therefore, the purpose of providing the outer permaruent stops 15 and the inner frangible stops 13 is that when the parts are'assembled and before the wedge 23 is drivenlin, the frangibie stops 16 will embrace and engage the sides of the yoke 17 to set the filler blocks ehm/e the same, and to permitvone. of the etrangible stops '16 to be broken, should the vto the liller blocks.

- in the drawings.

intacte yoke 17 be displaced when the wedge 23 is -driven in, therebyleaving the permanent stops 15 intact to prevent the iller blocks -8 and 9 from subsequently working out of place.` rlhe purpose of providing the filler block 8 with two Jrangible stops 16,l as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, is to permit the ends of the yoke 17 to be reversed with relation der-stood however that itis necessary to have the temporaryor frang'ible'stop 16 only on the side ofthe yoke 17 facing the direction of `the point? end of the wedge 23. In Fig. 3 of the drawings, I have shown a ,modification in which a' single frangible stop 16 andthe permanent stop 15 are provided on one side of the yoke 17 and avsingle permanent stop 15a is provided on the other side.

of the yoke 17. y

The wedge 23 is provided on its outer portion with a longitudinally exten-ding rib 24 which extends through an oisetor opening 25 in the Vadjacent end portion 2O of the yoke 17 The rib 24 is -provided with a series of holes 26 extending vertically therethrough which'are adapted to .receive a cotter pin 27 in different positions of 'adjustment of the wedge 23, the cotter pin 27 being located to engage the yoke 17 and pre- 95 The point end of the wedge 23 is provided vent outward movementof the wedge 23.

with a flange 28 directly above the top of the base of the guard rail 3. The flange 28 is provided with a notch 29 exposingthe top of the base of the guard rail 5; and driven into the underlying cross-tie 6 is a spike 30 the head of which extends over and engages the top of the base of the guard rail 5 within the notch 29 of the flange 28. It will therefore be understood that the spike 30 not only holds the guard rail 5 down upon the crosstie 6 by'd-irectengagement therewith, but the -spike 30 also engages the wall of the notch 29 and holds the wedge 23 and also the other pa ts of the guard rail clamp in position adjacent the cross-tie 6.

The yoke 17 is provided with projections 31 which are adapted to rest upon the adjacent cross-tie Gand assist in supporting and preventing displacement of the rails and parts of the clamp.

The bottom of the end portion 20 of the yoke 17 which extends over the-base of the guard rail y5 is provided with a shoulder -32 providing a wide space 33 between the end port-ion 20 and body portion 18 'inwardly of the shoulder 32 and a narrow space 34 between the end portion 20 and body 18 outwardly of the shoulder 32, asclearly shown me to bring the inner face of the end por tion 20 very close to the web of the adjacent paratively thin clamping wedge and increases the safety and durability of the It will be 'readily un.

This construction enables rail and permits the employment of a com.-

said 'rails and holding them' i-nspaced rela?" ing lsaid rails; means interposedbetween 'rail during'the insertion lthereof, .in Figf' guard raill adj acont j thereto 1pair fof :fillerblocks adjustablyengaged' with .ea'eli' other 'between the rails fand holding said rails in ingly spacedvteeth projeotingjinto saidopenings, lthe lbioolfi provided '.vvlth the openlngs.-

` having a t 'hollow 'interior communicating 'zi-"notched yportion*'exposing 'the' top of the 4.guard rail adjacent thereto., a yoke em rae- -each other,l said' means' ineluding a .filler therefrom and embracing said yoke, sald' bloei; havingfstop' parts' projecting theretance between -said 'ran-gible parts; and a clamping Wedge interposed 'between `said yoke and one of said rails.

' clamp. I ain enabled tofdo'this for the rear;l

son that theshnulder 321 vwill 'for'xna support guard railf in-v her. :parte of I'liave :shownone'yposition of the of the `-drawings" spacedirelationto' each other, one, 'block,ibe.

ing provided' Witlispaced openings andfthev other block being Aprovided- .with ,corre'spond-l With said openings; and means for clamping said-rails and said blocks together.

Q. The cmbination ofa main rail;I aq guard railadjacent thereto; a yoke 'embrac ing said f ails; rneans interposed "between tion yto eachother, said n ieans including a liller block having permanentstop parts 'em-1 .bracing said yokev and a frangible-stop part",

between one "of said permanent 'stop v parte `and 'said yoke; and'a c1amping 4Wedge lnterf posed -betvveenfsaidffyokefand' lone Tf1- said .rails.

3'.- The"'c0mbinatiomfof a lmain rail; [a

ing said' rails; means interposed betweengs'aid ,1 rails .and holdingthe'm in-spaced relation tof block having frahgible parts projecting from stronger than said frangible. parts. and

embracing said yoke, thedi'stance between said stop parts being greater than theV .dis-

- 4.. The combination of a main rail; a.

guard rail adjacentgtheret; a yoke embracsaid rails andholding them.A in. spaced .relation to eachother, said. means .including a 'ill'er block hav-ing, a .pair of flanges project therefronifin, spaced relation to each otl 1e1r,'.s:;t1 d flanges embracing saidyokev and extending Substantially at -ii'ght "angles ,thereto-the i'nneif'portions of said flanges 'adjacentsaidyoke being thin" and vfralgi-ble and the outer portionsvof vsaid flanges being th'iciken and Vstronger than. *saidl -frang'ible portions endforming stops to prevent-dis'- piacement 'of `said i block; and. a vlClamping 'wedge interposed betweeneaid Ayokeand one of 'said raiisz' Initiation-1 oi ia main fait; y a

guardrail adja'e'ent'theretoj a crosstie sup- 4 i porting v said, v raiis'; ineens -f'i interposed be-A tween saidra'ils endlholdvingl themvin spaced relation j to each other; 'a yoke yembracing said: rails; a clamping ,Wedge interposed 'between oneerrd of said yoke and one of said -rai1s, said .wedge having a 'parti' extending ,over the vbase-oit one of saidrails vand having underlyin raibase; and means engaging the topo Lsaid 'base andeecring it to said tie, said means .being in 'position4 to engage Agliard rail' clamp* yoke :comprising a.

vvbody'qpoitit'nn vand end portions' overhangmg tion outwardly of the'shoulden, Substantially ,as yand for the'purpose described,

4''. The :onbinationv of 'a- 'main rail gv a.

guard rail adjacentheret 'a cross tie sup- Vyporting said rails; a yoke extending below the plane ofthe top of the tie and embracing said railsi and having ai projection overlapping said'crosstie; andmeans for clamping said rails and yoke togetherf,

ln testimony whereof I aiix my signature .in presenceof two Witnesses. V

' '.DAVXD F.'VAUGrI-LN Witnesses:

' S. 1. HARPER,

A. Y'. Gnomes.-

f space between the end portion and body por- 

